Apparatus for applying heat-transfer labels to articles



Jan. 25, 1966 c. A. FLQQD 392319448 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT-TBANSFERLABELS TO ARTICLES Filed Dec. 20, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 25, 1966 c.A. FLOOD 3,231,443

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT-TRANSFER LABELS TO ARTICLES Filed Dec. 20,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 25, 1966 c. A. FLOOD 3,231,448

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT-TRANSFER LABELS TO ARTICLES Filed Dec. 20,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 25, 1966 c. A. FLOOD 3,231,448

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT-TRANSFER LABELS TO ARTICLES Filed Dec. 20,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 j I I H 1/ I I I: i ji Liz lm l l I 4/1 l Iii! Itn I HI" 1,41? 1 H I i? l lu'lh V 1 l i ILL;

Jan. 25, 1966 c, FLQOD 3,231,448

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT-TRANSFER LABELS TO ARTICLES Filed Dec. 20,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR APPLYINGHEAT-TRANSFER LABELS T0 ARTICLES Carl A. Flood, Framingham, Mass.,assignor to Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass., acorporation of Nevada Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,066 8 Claims.(Cl. 156-542) This invention relates to heat-transfer labels and moreparticularly to heat-transfer labels mounted on a backing strip in a rowextending lengthwise of the strip. While any heat-transfer label stripmay be employed, the strip is preferably made as disclosed in Patent2,862,832 of Ridgley G. Shepherd, Ir. dated December 2, 1958, where thelabel strip comprises a paper backing having a marginal row of sprocketholes, the backing being coated with oxidized wax adhesively to hold thelabels printed on the wax coating with ink which is heatactivatable sothat when a label is pressed against a bottle or other article by meansof a hot iron engaging the back of the strip the label is transferredfrom the strip to the article.

Objects of the invention are to increase the rate of transfer of thelabels from the aforesaid strip to articles such as bottles or vials, toincrease the adhesion of the labels to the articles, and generally toimprove the art of applying heat-transfer labels to articles.

In one aspect the present invention involves apparatus comprising meansfor feeding a label-carrier strip at a predetermined speed along apredetermined path past a label-applying station, means for recurrentlypresenting articles to said station on one side of said path, means atsaid station on the other side of said path for pressing said stripagainst an article, said last means including an ironer for pressing alabel on the strip against the article, means for heating the ironer,means to move the surface of an article past said station at saidpredetermined speed, said ironer being movable back and forth toward andfrom said path between operative and inoperative positions, and anactuator to move the ironer to inoperative position while each articleis brought to said station. Preferably the apparatus comprises a springfor moving the ironer from inoperative to operative position and thenyieldingly compressing the strip between the article and ironer. Whilethe ironer may be nonmovably mounted on the actuator, preferably itcomprises a roller which is freely rotatable by frictional contact withsaid strip.

The preferred embodiment comprises a heater movable back and forth withthe roller for heating the roller, the heater being mounted on theactuator outside the roller so as to apply heat to the periphery of theroller. Preferably the heater has a cylindrical radiating surfaceapproximately parallel to the aforesaid periphery. The heater may have asurface bearing on the aforesaid strip immediately in advance of thelabel-applying station while the roller is in said operative position.Preferably the aforesaid roller and surface disengage the strip when ininoperative position. In the preferred embodiment the apparatuscomprises means for heating the labels before they reach the aforesaidheater. Preferably the aforesaid heating means has an elongate surfaceextending along the aforesaid path, the surface having longitudinalconvexity so as to maintain contact with the strip throughout the lengthof the surface and the convexity being slight so as to minimizefriction. The heating means may comprise a second elongate surfaceextending along the aforesaid path in advance of the first elongatesurface and also having longitudinal convexity, the two surfaces beingdisposed at an angle to each other, and a roller be- 3,231,448 PatentedJan. 25, 1966 tween the two surfaces for guiding the strip from onesurface to the other with a minimum of friction.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of theapparatus;

FIG. 1a is a plan view of a label strip;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is-a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of parts of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a part of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 99 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a section on line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration comprises a feed reel 1, a take-up reel 2 and a sprocketwheel 3 for feeding the label strip S from the feed reel to the take-upreel over rollers 4, 5, 6, 7, 3, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the strip 8having sprocket holes H and carrying labels L. Between the rollers 11and 12 is an applicator roll 16 which is mounted on a bracket 17 pivotedon shaft 18. The roll 16 is preferably covered with a resilient layer toaccommodate irregularities in the surface of the article to be labeled.For example the roll may be covered with a layer of soft silicone rubberthick. The applicator roll is moved back and forth between operative andinoperative positions by means of a cam 19 driven by sprocket 19 (FIG.2) and a cam follower 21 on the arm 22 fast to the shaft 18, the camfollower 21 being held against the cam 19 by means of a spring 23 (FIG.7). Bridging the two arms of the U-shaped bracket 17 is a rod 17' (FIG.2) and fast to the shaft 18 is a U-shaped actuator 18 which straddlesthe rod 17 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) with adjusting screws 20 to adjust thelocation of the applicataor roll 16 in its advanced and retractedpositions. The applicator roll 16 is surrounded throughout most of itsperiphery by a heater 24 containing a heating coil which heats theperiphery of the applicator roll by radiation. In traveling from roll 11to the applicator roll 16 the strip bears against a surface 15 on theheater 24 thereby to apply more heat to each label just before it isapplied. To heat the strip to a predetermined temperature, the longerthe surface 15 lengthwise of said path the lower the temperature of thesurface. Preferably the temperature of heater 24 is higher than that ofplates 58 and 59, for example 450 F. When the roll 16 and heater 24 areretracted to inoperative position they disengage the strip S. Inasmuchas the surface 15 and roll 16 engage the strip S only momentarily whilea label is being applied, they may be heated to a temperature highenough to damage the label strip if they contacted the strip while thestrip is decelerated between applications of successive labels ashereinafter described. The applicator roll 16 is rotated by frictionalengagement with the strip S.

Opposite the applicator roll 16 is a turret 26 carrying a row ofupstanding pins 27 around its periphery. The vials V (FIG. 9), to whichthe labels are to be transferred from the strip S, are placed over thepins 27. The turret 26 is rotated step by step in the direction of thearrow in FIG. 1 by means of a rack 28 actuated by -reciprocating slide29 as disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 141,476 filedSeptember 28, 1961. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the rack actuates theturret through a gear 31 rotatable on the turret (FIG. 9), a pawl 32 andratchet wheel 33, the pawl being pivotally mounted on the gear 31 by apin 34 (FIG. 10) and the 3 ratchet wheel being fast to the turret. Fastto the ratchet wheel is a brake wheel 36 rubbing on a brake 37 toprevent the turret from overthrowing as it is stepped around. The turret26, gear 31, ratchet wheel 33 and brake 36 are rotatable together onshaft 38 journaled in table 39. The shaft 38 is driven by a sprocketwheel 41 and fast to the shaft within the hollow turret is a gear 42meshing with pinions 43 on the pins 27 (FIG. 9) continuously to rotatethe pins.

At each of the three stations between the loading station 27' and theapplicator roll 16 (FIG. 1) is a gasflame device 44 for heating thevials as they approach the applicator station in well known manner.Another such device 45 may be located between the applicator station andthe unloading station 27" to set the adhesive holding the labels on thevials. By preheating the vials the labels adhere quicker and better. Atthe applicator station a plunger 46 operated by an air cyclinder 47presses the vial against the base rotated by pinion 43 to cause the vialto rotate at the speed of the pinion.

The strip-guide rollers 7 and 13 are mounted on a carriage 51 which isreciprocated back and forth by slide 52 (FIG. 1). While a label is beingapplied 'by applicator 16 the carriage reciprocates to the left topropel the strip S past the label-applying station at the same speed asthe peripheral velocity of the rotating vial so that a label istransferred to the vial by the applicator roll 16. After the label isapplied and while the next vial is being brought up to the applicatorstation, the carriage reciprocates to the right so that the strip is notadvanced past the applicator station much if any. In this way the labelsL on the strip S may be placed close together as shown in FIG. 1a, theportion of the strip between rolls 7 and 13 pausing between applicationsof successive labels to successive vials.

The reciprocation of the slides 29 and 52 is controlled by cams 53 and54 actuating cam rollers 56 and 57 on the two slides respectively asfully described in my Patent 2,981,432 granted April 25, 1961.

Between rollers 8 and 9 is an electrically heated plate 58 and betweenrollers 9 and 11 is another such plate 59, these plates serving to warmthe labels L on strip S before they reach the label-applying roller 16,thereby to facilitate the transfer of the labels to the vials. By makingthese plates slightly concave lengthwise of the strip path the strip iscaused to maintain close contact with the plates as it passes thereoverand by providing a roller at each end of each plate the drag on thestrip is minimized. By making the plates elongate heat may be applied tothe label strip throughout a considerable portion of the length of itspath without contacting the exposed surfaces of the labels while heated.The labels may be heated to 160-180 F. for an indefinite time withoutdamage. Preheating the label strip not only facilitates adhesion to thevials but also prevents wrinkling of the strip between labels by theheated applicator roll.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 the means for equalizing the tension in thestrip S on opposite sides of the sprocket wheel 3, thereby to avoidtearing the sprocket holes, comprises the following mechanism. Bearingon the feed reel 1 is a brake 61 pivotally mounted on a shaft 62. Thebrake is pressed against the reel by a spring 63 acting on the brakethrough an arm 64 and anadjustable screw 66, the arm being pivotallymounted at 67. The spring is mounted on a link 68 which extends looselyinto the upper end of arm 64 and bears against an adjusting nut 69. Theother end of the link is pivotally connected to a pin 71 fast to arocker arm 72 which is fast to a shaft 73. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 theaxes of the pin 71 and shaft 73 are offset so that brake pressure isincreased when the arm 72 rocks clockwise and i decreased when it rockscounterclockwise. A pin 74 extending through a slot 75 in the rocker armlimits the movement of the arm. The aforesaid roller is mounted on oneend of the rocker arm and the other end of the arm is pivotally 4.connected to a piston rod 76 by a pin 77. The rod 76 is connected to apiston 78 in a cylinder 79 which is supplied with fluid under pressurethrough a conduit 81 and regulator R.

As shown in FIG. 3 the take-up reel 2 is driven by a sprocket wheel 82through a friction clutch comprising a driving part 33 and driven part84 mounted on the take-up shaft 86 which is journaled in a bearing 87.The driven part 84 of the clutch is pinned to the shaft at 88 and thedriving part 83 is freely rotatable on the shaft. Part 83 is pressedagainst part 84 by an arm 89 pivotally mounted at 90. Arm 89 is actuatedby one end of a bell-crank 91 pivotally mounted at 92. The other end ofthe bell-crank is actuated by a spring 93 on a rod 94 which isreciprocated lengthwise by a pin 96 eccentrically fast to shaft 97 whichis journaled in bearing 98 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). An arm 99 is mounted onthe end of shaft 97 and is pinned thereto as shown in FIG. 3. The stripguide 12 is mounted on one end of the arm 99 and the other end of thearm is connected with the cylinder 79 at 102. The end of roller 14extends through a slot 103 in arm 99 to limit the movement of the arm.

As the tension in the feed portion of the strip S between feed reel 1and sprocket wheel 3 starts to increase for any reason, the arm 72 isrotated counterclockwise (FIGS. 1 and 4) thereby moving piston 78 to theright. This further compresses the air in cylinder 79, therebyincreasing the tension in the take-up portion of the strip to balancethe increase in the feed portion so as to avoid tearing the sprocketholes in the strip. Conversely if the tension in the take-up portion ofthe strip tends to increase, the tension in the feed portion isincreased through the yielding interconnection of the piston andcylinder. Likewise if the tension in either portion starts to decrease,the tension in the other portion is automatically decreased.

In addition to this counterbalancing of tension, the arms 72 and 99 arekept floating by brake 61 and friction clutch 83-84 so that the stops 14and 74 do not engage either end of their slots respectively (FIGS. 1 and4). For example, when the arm 72 moves counterclockwise in response tomomentary increase of tension in the feed portion, the lower end of slotmoves toward the stop 74, but this counterclockwise movement of the armrelieves the brake 61 to prevent the end of the slot from engaging thestop, thereby keeping the arm floating. Likewise when the arm movesclockwise in response to momentary decrease of tension the brakingeffect is in creased to keep the upper end of the slot from engaging thestop. In the same manner movement of arm 99 varies the friction inclutch 83-84 to prevent the ends of slot 103 from engaging the stop 14,thereby keeping the arm floating.

The tension of the label strip between the sprocket wheel 3 and the feedreel 1 is determined by the amount of air pressure in the cylinder 79providing the arm 72 is not against the stop 74. Initially the arm 72 isadjusted to midposition by adjusting the spring 63 so that when the arm72 is moved clockwise to the stop position the braking action is heavierthan will ever be required and when the arm is moved counterclockwise tothe other stop position the braking action is lighter than will ever berequired. Likewise the arm 99 is adjusted to midposition by adjustingspring 93. When the feed reel 1 is full the arm 72 swings to the exactposition that will cause the brake to counterbalance the strip tensionas determined by the air cylinder. As the feed reel is reduced in sizethe roll 5 moves counterclockwise to reduce the braking actionaccordingly. The same is true of the take-up reel. By adjusting thedistances x and y (FIG. 4) relatively to each other for initial balancein tension on opposite sides of sprocket 3, the balance is automaticallymaintained notwithstanding variations in friction or other factorstending to unbalance the tension.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the labels are warmed by theplates 58 and 59 and by the surface 15 of the heater 24 (FIGS. 6 and 7)and as the vials approach the label-applying station they are warmed bythe gas-flame devices 44. As above explained the portion of the strip Sbetween rollers 7 and 13 is caused to travel at the same linear velocityas that of the rotating vial at the applicator station while the labelis being applied, and then to pause while the next vial is stepped up tothe labelapplying station. When a vial reaches the applicator stationthe applicator roll 16 presses the strip S against the rotating vial andwhile another vial is being stepped up to the applicator station theapplicator roll and heater surface are retracted by the cam 19 out ofcontact with the strip S. The moving parts are interconnected to operatein synchronism as described in the aforesaid patent and when the machinestops the roll 16 should be in retracted position so as not to overheatthe strip S and the Vials V should be between stations so as not to beoverheated by the gas-flame devices.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the art of heat-transfer labels printed on a backing strip withink which is heat-activatable, apparatus comprising means to pull astrip along a predetermined path during recurrent intervals, an ironerengageable with the back of a strip at one location along said path topress labels against articles during said intervals respectively, aheater engageable with the back of the strip in advance of said locationfor rendering the labels adhesive as they approach the ironer, and meansto move the heater into contact with the strip only during saidintervals.

2. In the art of heat-transfer labels printed on a backing strip withink which is heat-activatable, apparatus comprising means to pull astrip along a predetermined path during recurrent intervals, an ironerengageable with the back of a strip at one location along said path topress labels against articles during said intervals respectively, aheater engageable with the back of the strip in advance of said locationfor rendering the heat-transfer labels adhesive as they approach theironer, and means to move the ironer and heater into contact with thestrip only during said intervals.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said heater is in heattransfer relation to the ironer so that it also heats the ironer.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further characterized by means inadvance of said heater for warming the labels and means engageable onlywith the back of the strip for guiding the strip past said warmingmeans, heater and ironer so that the labels contact nothing after beingwarmed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said guiding means comprisesan elongate stationary surface extending lengthwise of said path, thesurface being convex lengthwise of the path so that the strip is held incontact with the surface by tension in the strip produced by saidpulling means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said guiding means comprisestwo elongate stationary surfaces extending lengthwise of said path withjuxtaposed ends meeting at an angle, and a roller between said ends forguiding the strip from one surface to the other, each surface beingconvex lengthwise of the path so that the strip is held in contact withthe surfaces by tension in the strip produced by said pulling means.

7. In the art of heat-transfer labels printed on a backing strip withink which is heat-activatable, apparatus comprising means to pull astrip along a predetermined path during recurrent intervals, an ironerengageable with the back of a strip at one location along said path topress labels against articles during said intervals respectively, meansin advance of said ironer for warming the labels, means engageable onlywith the back of the strip for guiding the strip past the warming meansand ironer so that the labels contact nothing after being warmed, theguiding means comprising an elongate stationary surface extendinglengthwise of said path, the surface being convex lengthwise of the pathso that the strip is held in contact with the surface by tension in thestrip produced by said pulling means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further characterized in that theguiding means comprises a second elongate stationary surface extendinglengthwise of said path with juxtaposed ends of the two surfaces meetingat an angle, and a roller between the said ends for guiding the stripfrom one surface to the other, the second surface also being convexlengthwise of the path so that the strip is held in contact with thesurfaces by tension in the strip produced by said pulling means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,520 1/1951Holt et al 156-82 2,981,432 4/1961 Flood 156542 XR 3,054,715 9/1962White 156-540 XR ALEXANDER WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

HAROLD ANSHER, EARL M. BERGERT, Examiners.

1. IN THE ART OF HEAT-TRANSFER LABELS PRINTED ON A BACKING STRIP WITHINK WHICH IS HEAT-ACTIVATABLE, APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS TO PULL ASTRIP ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH DURING RECURRENT INTERVALS, AN IRONERENGAGEABLE WITH THE BACK OF A STRIP AT ONE LOCATION ALONG SAID PATH TOPRESS LABELS AGAINST ARTICLES DURING SAID INTERVALS RESPECTIVELY, AHEATER ENGAGEABLE WITH THE BACK OF THE STRIP IN ADVANCE OF SAID LOCATIONFOR RENDERING THE LABELS ADHESIVE AS THEY